Device for mixing fluids

ABSTRACT

A container for containing a first fluid having conduit means leading from and to said container in a loop with the container together with a pump interposed in the conduit means for moving a fluid through the container means and the conduit means and means for creating an increase in the fluid velocity of the fluid moved through the conduit means with a resultant lower pressure area thereby creating an inducement area followed by an area of high turbulence further including means for subjecting a second fluid to the inducement area to introduce the second fluid into the first fluid and subject the mixture to the area of high turbulence.

United States Patent 1,160,848 11/1915 Conklin Primary Examiner-RobertW. Jenkins Attorney-Wicks & Nemer ABSTRACT: A container for containing afirst fluid having conduit means leading from and to said container in aloop with the container together with a pump interposed in the conduitmeans for moving a fluid through the container means and theconduitmeans and means for creating an increase in the fluid velocity of thefluid moved through the conduit means with a resultant lower pressurearea thereby creating an inducement area followed by an area of highturbulence further including means for subjecting a second fluid to theinducement area to introduce the second fluid into the first fluid andsubject the mixture to the area of high turbulence.

PATENTEHFEB23|9Y| 3555 404 SHEETIOFZ INVENTORS- NORMAN C. REID fiLBERTF. GALL/STEL I w wn imd ATTORNEYS l DEVICE FOR MIXINGIFLUIDS SUMMARY orTHE INVENTION The invention relatesto devices for mixing and dissolvingone fluid withanother. As an example of the problem of mixing, it isdifficult to dissolve a fluid such as benzyl alcohol with photographicsolutions.

Liquid concentrates vary in. viscosity and density. Some concentratesactually float on water in a mix tank with little tendency to sink tothe bottom where the stirring action iscarried on with conventionalpropeller blades on a shaft. A drawback of the propeller blade type ofstirring is that the blades create a vortex or whirlpool in which airmay be mixed'into the solution which causes developer oxidation inphotographic solutions.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device withwhich is produced an area of increased fluid velocity and resultinglower pressure in which are'a a second fluid isintroduced into a firstfluid. At this area a resulting turbulence is set up which breaks up thesecond fluid into microdroplets which result in quick and thoroughmixing of the first-and second fluids.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a device for mixing liquids embodyingthe invention, portions of which are broken'away other portions being insection. i v

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a further embodiment of theinventionportions of which are broken away and in section.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a still'further embodiment of theinvention, portions thereof being in section.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device A includes the mix tankand leading from theibot'tom of the tank 10 is the hollow output orsuctionlineglZ. Extended into the suction line 12' by the conventionalunion 14 is the lower end of the supply line 16. The line 16 at itsupper end is connected to a conventional flow rate shutoff valve 18 orthe like equipped with the control handle 20 for controlling the flowofconcentrate or other fluid from the reservoir 22 to which the valve :18is connected. The reservoir 22 is provided to contain a concentrate orfluid of marginal solubility and the valve 18 is adjusted to control therate of flow from the reservoir so that-the rate at which the liquid isbeing added to the first fluid from tank 10 does not exceed the rateatwhich it is able to dissolve in the fluid from tank 10.

The outer end of the suction line'12 is connected to the axial center orinput of the conventional centrifugal pump 24 having the radiallydisposed impeller vanes 26 inthe housing 28, the vanes rotated by themotor 29 of the pump 24. Leading from the periphery of the vane housing28 is the pressure line 30 which connects to the bottom of the mix tank10.

ln the use and operation of the device A the first fluid to -be mixedwith a second fluid ispla'ced-in the tank '10. The concentrate or secondfluid to be mixed withthe fluid of tank 10 is placed in the reservoir22. The pump 24 is then operated by a source of electrical power whichdraws the fluid from the tank 10 through the suction line 12 to thepump; and the fluid is ejected from the pump into the pressure line 30by means of which the fluid is returned to the tank 10. The valve 18 isset to allow a flow of fluid from the reservoir 22.through supply line16 to the union 14 and into the tank suction line 12.

As the first liquid is drawn from the tank through the suction line 12as at area X the second fluid is drawn from the line tion line 12 thusproducing a circulationfrom tank to pump to tank. The mixtureisrecirculated until all the second fluid is mixed with the first fluid.

There is a positive mixing action of the firstand second fluids which iscaused by the violent rolling and turbulence of the mixture against thevanes 26 of the impeller and the inside surfaces of the impeller housing28. Such an action increases the fluid velocity and reduces pressure atand near the inlet port resulting in a turbulence condition'of highshear that disperses the second liquid into micro droplets. This vastlyincreases the surface area of the second-liquid exposed to the firstliquid from tank 10 which. results in instant mixing or emulsifying ofthe secondliquid with the first liquid. Further mixing when necessary isaccomplished by recirculating the mixture from tank topump and pump totank. The extent of recirculation depends on the'materials being mixed.The flow rate valve 18 may be closed after'the desired amount of thesecond liquid is combined with the firstliquid from tank 10.

'This prevents air from being drawn into the solution that frequentlyresults in developer oxidationin the photographic industry. it will beseen xthat withthe reduced pressure at the area of the inlet port ofthepump "as at X thereservoir 22 can be mountedat a point below the levelof the mix tank containing the liquid with which the second fluidconcentrate of the reservoir is to be .mixed. This is dueto'the factthat the second fluid is sucked' from the. reservoir and it makes ithighly desirable in some types of installations of mixing devices andparticularly due to the increase in sizeand weight ofthe container ofthe second fluid. With the device described, the supply of ,second fluidmay be drawn from a container without extended handling of the'containerdue to the fact that the position of the second fluid supply-isnotcritical.

A further embodiment B of the invention is illustrated in F IG. 2 inwhich is found the suction or output line 34 which leads from a mix tanksuch as 10 in FIG. l.;The suction line 34 is connected to the axialcenter or inputof the conventional centrifugal pump 35 having theradially disposed impeller vanes 36 in the housing 38,the vanes rotatedby the motor of the pump 35. Leading from the periphery of the vaneshousing 38 is the pressure line 44 which connects to the bottom of a mixtank such as 10 iniFlG. 1.

interposed in the'pressure line 44 is the connector member -46 which hasthe reduced diameter-or venturi formation 48. The numeral .50 designatesa supply line the upper end of which is connected to the conventionalflow rate and shutoff valve 52 or the like equipped with the controlhandle-54 for controlling theflowof a second fluid from the reservoir 56to which the valve .52 is-connected. The lower end of theline isconnected to the connector 46, and the inner end '57 is =positioned atthe area of the venturi 48. The reservoir 56 is provided to contain aconcentrate or fluid of marginal solubility and the valve 52 is adjustedto control the rate of 'flow from the reservoir so that the secondfluid'being added to the first fluid from tank 10 does not exceed therate at which it is able to dissolve in the liquid from the tank 10. Theline 44 is connected to a mix tank such as tank 10 in FIG. 1.

lnthe operation of the device B a flow of a fluid from a mix tankthrough lines 34 and 44 and to the :mix tank is :due to the pump 35interposed between suction line 34 and pressure line 16 into the line12, and the first and second fluids are moved to the vanes of theimpeller of the pump 24. The vanes 26 of the centrifugal pump increasethe radial velocity of the combined liquids and eject the same outtheline 30 thereby causing reduced pressure on the center inlet or inputport where the suction line 12 connects with the vane housing 28 therebydrawing in fresh solution from line 12 that .in turn is set in rapidradial motion by the vanes 26 of the impeller. The suction created atthe pump inlet port draws as much of the second fluid as the restrictingvalve 18 will permit. The mixture of the fluid from tank 10 and theliquid from reservoir 22 is forced into tank 10 through pressure line 30and out the suc- 44. At the venturi 48 restriction in-connector '46there is created a reduced pressure area due to the increased velocityof the fluid through the venturi. The reduced pressure area creates aninducement area followed by a turbulence area where the second liquidfrom line 50 is introduced, and the submission of the second liquid tothe turbulence breaks up the second fluid from line 50 intomicrodroplets which substantially instantly results in a complete mixingof the two liquids. The inducement area draws the second liquid from thereservoir. Further mixing when necessary is accomplished byrecirculating the mixture from tank to pump and pump to tank.

- A still further embodiment C of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3in which is found the suction line 60 which leads from a mix tank suchas in HO. 1. The suction line 60 is connected to the axial center orinput of the conventional centrifugal pump 62 having the radiallydisposed impeller vanes 64 in the housing 66, the vanes rotated by themotor 67 of the pump 62. Leading from the periphery of the vane housing66 is the pressure line 68 which connects to the bottom of a mix tanksuch as 10 in FIG. 1.

lnterposed in the pressure line 68 is the connector member 70 which isformed with the reduced diameter or venturi formation 72. Connected tothe pressure line 68 and extending within the connector 70 is the highvelocity jet nozzle 74 the tip of which is substantially at the venturithroat 72. The numeral 76 designates a supply line the upper end ofwhich is connected to the conventional flow rate and shutoff valve 78 orthe like equipped with the control handle 80 for controlling the flow ofa second fluid from the reservoir 82 to which the valve 78 is connected.The lower-end of the line 76 is connected to the connector 70 andextends to a point within the connector adjacent the jet nozzle} 74.

In the operation of the device C a flow of a first fluid is drawn fromsuction line 60 through pump 62 and ejected out through nozzle 74 whereit mixes with a second liquid coming from the end of the supply line 76.The liquid coming out of the nozzle 74 is at high fluid velocity, andthe venturi 72 increases the fluid velocity. The venturi creates areduced pressure which creates an inducement area followed by aturbulence set up in the area of the venturi and nozzle which breaks upthe second liquid into microdroplets which substantially instantlyresults in a complete mixing of the two fluids. The reservoir 82 isprovided to containa second fluid of marginal solubility and the valve78 is adjusted to control the rate of flow from the reservoir so thatthe concentrate being added to the liquid from line 60 does not exceedthe rate at which it is able to dissolve in the fluid from line 60.Additional mixing is accomplished by recirculating the fluids from tankto pump and pump to tank. The inducement area draws the second fluidfrom the reservoir through the supply line for mixture with the firstfluid.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in thestructure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within thespirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fullyillustrated and described our invention.

We claim: 1

l. A device for mixing one fluid with another fluid in a manner toprevent the introduction of air into the mixture, comprising:

a. a first tank for containing the first fluid;

b. an impeller pump having an input for accepting fluid to be pumped andan output for providing fluid under pressure; I

c. a first conduit having a first end connected to the bottom of thefirst tank and a second end connected to the input to the impeller pump;t

d. a second conduit having a first end connected to the output of theimpeller pump and a second end connected to the first tank; v

e. a second tank for containing a second fluid to be mixed with thefirst fluid outside the firsttank without the introduction of air intothe mixture;

f. valve means connected to the second tank to control the flow of fluidout of the second tank; and

g. a third conduit having a first end connected to the valve means andhaving a second end connected to the first conduit in a manner that thesecond end of the third conduit is immersed in any stream of fluidflowing in the first conduit to allow the mixing of the first fluid andthe second fluid outside of the first and second tanks, and without theintroduction of air into the mixture, at a position before the firstfluid flowing from the first tank reaches the input to the impellerpump, the suction of the impeller pump drawing as much of the secondfluid as the valve means will permit, and the turbulent condition withinthe impeller pump dispersin the second liquid into microdroplets with anincrease surface area such that the second liquid is rapidly mixed withthe first liquid within the impeller pump.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first conduit includes a union,and the second end of the third conduit connects with the union to allowa mixing of the first and second fluids outside of the first and secondtanks without the introduction of air into the mixture.

1. A device for mixing one fluid with another fluid in a manner toprevent the introduction of air into the mixture, comprising: a. a firsttank for containing the first fluid; b. an impeller pump having an inputfor accepting fluid to be pumped and an output for providing fluid underpressure; c. a first conduit having a first end connected to the bottomof the first tank and a second end connected to the input to theimpeller pump; d. a second conduit having a first end connected to theoutput of the impeller pump and a second end connected to the firsttank; e. a second tank for containing a second fluid to be mixed withthe first fluid outside the first tank without the introduction of airinto the mixture; f. valve means connected to the second tank to controlthe flow of fluid out of the second tank; and g. a third conduit havinga first end connected to the valve means and having a second endconnected to the first conduit in a manner that the second end of thethird conduit is immersed in any stream of fluid flowing in the firstconduit to allow the mixing of the first fluid and the second fluidoutside of the first and second tanks, and without the introduction ofair into the mixture, at a position before the first fluid flowing fromthe first tank reaches the input to the impeller pump, the suction ofthe impeller pump drawing as much of the second fluid as the valve meanswill permit, and the turbulent condition within the impeller pumpdispersing the second liquid into microdroplets with an increasedsurface area such that the second liquid is rapidly mixed with the firstliquid within the impeller pump.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein thefirst conduit includes a union, and the second end of the third conduitconnects with the union to allow a mixing of the first and second fluidsoutside of the first and second tanks without the introduction of airinto the mixture.